A GIGANTIC PHOTOGRAPH INSCRIBED BY RICHARD NIXON TO DR. NORMAN VINCENT PEALE

RICHARD NIXON (1913-1994). Nixon was the Thirty-Seventh President.

DR. NORMAN VINCENT PEALE (1898-1993).  Peale was a Christian preacher and author known mostly for his book The Power of Positive Thinking.  

PS. 15 ½” x 19 ½”. December 22, 1969. No place [likely Washington].  A gigantic studio portrait inscribed “To Dr. Norman Vincent Peale with grateful appreciation for his wise counsel and spiritual inspiration through the years from his friend Dick Nixon 12-22-‘69”.  Nixon and Peale had a long friendship; Dr. Peale officiated at the 1968 wedding of Julie Nixon and David Eisenhower held in New York City.  While Nixon signed photographs are common, I have never seen one this size.  The photograph was taken by Fabian Bachrach.  It is framed in wood and in near perfect condition.

A PILLOW FEATURING THE AUTOGRAPHS OF AMERICA’S GREATEST PRESIDENTS

An embroidered, decorative pillow featuring the autographs of America’s great Presidents, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, John Adams, James Madison, Andrew Jackson, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. The pillow, embroidered here in the United States, has beige fabric with black trim and black autographs, and the words Hail to the Chief in the center. It measures 17” x 7”. The perfect gift for an autograph collector or a Presidential history buff.

SIGNED PHOTOS BY THE REAGANS TO LILLIAN GISH – THE FIRST LADY OF AMERICAN CINEMA MEETS THE ACTUAL PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY

RONALD REAGAN (1911-2004). Reagan was the Fortieth President.

NANCY REAGAN (1921-2016). Reagan was First Lady.

LILLIAN GISH (1893-1993). The long-lived Gish was a prolific film actress sometimes called “The First Lady of American Cinema”. Her first movie credit was in 1912, and her last was in 1987.

PsS. N.d. [1981]. N.p. [Washington]. A pair of color photographs signed “Ron” and “Nancy” as President and First Lady. Taken at a 1981 White House event shortly after Reagan’s inauguration, the photos depict the Reagans with long-lived film actress Lillian Gish. Coming from a Hollywood background themselves, Ron and Nancy certainly would have known Gish, who was at this time still a working actress into her late eighties. “Dear Lillian – It was wonderful seeing you again. Let’s do this more often. Warm Regards Ron” and “To my dear Lillian – With much love Nancy”. Both photos are in fine condition.

CHIEF JUSTICE WILLIAM REHNQUIST SIGNS A COPY OF THE BUSH V. GORE DECISION THAT DECIDED THE 2000 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

WILLIAM H. REHNQUIST (1924-2005). Rehnquist was a longtime Supreme Court Justice. He served for thirty-three years, including almost twenty as Chief Justice.

SB. 12pgs. N.d. N.p. A published copy of a major Supreme Court decision signed “William H Rehnquist” as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on the first page. It is a copy of the Supreme Court’s December 12, 2000 decision in the monumental Bush v. Gore case. The Supreme Court which essentially decided the 2000 Presidential election in George W. Bush’s favor by preventing a recount of contested Florida ballets. Rehnquist had been Chief Justice during this major episode in the history of American elections.  This is not the small bound printings issued by the Court, but a larger printing done elsewhere; it is not bound and it is in fine condition.

GOVERNOR ROOSEVELT WRITES TO FUTURE LABOR SECRETARY FRANCES PERKINS ABOUT A MAN WHO TRIED TO ASSASSINATE THE GOVERNOR: “I WAS AWFULLY SORRY FOR HIM AND SENT THE CHECK FOR $100. FOR HIS USE TO DISTRICT ATTORNEY TUTTLE. I AM STILL SORRY FOR THE POOR FELLOW”

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT (1882-1945).  Roosevelt was the Thirty-Second President. 

FRANCES PERKINS (1880-1965).  Perkins was a labor activist and the first woman to serve in a Cabinet, acting as Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945.

TLS. 1pg. July 24, 1930. Albany.  A typed letter signed “Franklin D. Roosevelt” as New York Governor to future Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins: “You will remember that a year ago Thomas J. Calligy, a post-office clerk in New York, mailed a bomb to me and then saw to it that it exploded in the post office itself, hoping thereby to become a hero and get credit for saving my life. He broke down under cross examination and confessed the whole thing period at that time, I was awfully sorry for him and sent the check for $100. for his use to District Attorney Tuttle. I am still sorry for the poor fellow, and inclose a letter which has just come from him. I wish much that you would personally try to get some kind of job for him, either through one of our own employment officers or through one of the charity organizations. Will you let me know what you can do?”  The letter is framed and there are two mailing folds.  A fine letter showing Roosevelt’s compassion for the common man.